represent English · revision 4391

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1375|origins=la repraesentare}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˌrep.rɪˈzent/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|representen]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) [[bor|fro|representer|t=to present, show, portray]] (12th century),^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) and directly from [[la|repraesentāre|t=to make present, set in view, show]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from re-, here perhaps intensive,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(NODE 1998) and praesentāre “to place before, present”,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from praesens “present, at hand”, from praeesse “to be before”, from prae- and esse “to be”.^(Etymonline) It is related to [[present]].^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ “To bring clearly before the mind, especially by description”: 1375 in the OED and Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988) Etymonline gives the late 14th century, also for “to symbolize, serve as a sign of”.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To bring someone into another's presence is from about 1380.^(OED 1989) “To act in place of, stand for” is from 1389, in Wycliffe's writings,^(Barnhart 1988) and “to show, portray, depict” from 1392.^(Barnhart 1988) In law, to speak and act for another by delegated right is from about 1500,^(Etymonline) and “to describe as having a particular character” from about 1500,^(Etymonline) 1513 in the OED.^(OED 1989) The legislative sense, to be the elected deputy of a body of people, is from the 1650s,^(Etymonline) the 17th century in Hoad.^(Hoad 1986) To make objections, protest, is from 1717.^(OED 1989) “To serve as an example of” is by 1858.^(Etymonline) ''Representation'' is probably from before 1400, and ''representative'' from about 1385.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1375 – to bring before the mind.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1385 – ''representative''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1389 – to stand for.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1392 – to portray.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1500 – to act for another in law.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1650s – to represent voters.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1717 – to protest.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1858 – to be an example of.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To act or speak officially for, as a lawyer or an elected [[representative]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To stand for; to [[symbolize]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To depict in art; to [[portray]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To describe as having a particular character: ''represented himself as an expert''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To be an example or instance of; to amount to: ''represents a big change''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+ # To present clearly to the mind.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[representable]]

+ * [[representer]]

+ * [[misrepresent]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[representation]]

+ * [[representative]]

+ * [[present]]

+ * [[presence]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage groups represent with delineate, depict, limn, picture and portray, all meaning “to render a realistic image or likeness of”.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}